The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings put on a memorable show on and off the ice as the Ducks claimed a 3-0 win in front of a packed house of 54,099 energetic fans - an attendance undoubtedly rounded up or down to honor Gretzky's number - at the NHL Stadium Series game at Dodger Stadium.

"It was so cool coming out -- we felt like rock stars," said Anaheim defenseman Ben Lovejoy. "But we are not. We are simple hockey players, but for one night that was something."

Anaheim forward Teemu Selanne gushed about how much fun he had playing the game, and joked that the NHL should build "80,000-people stadiums so we don't have to play 82 games."

"We could just play 20 games," Selanne joked, laughing. "Same money."

Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller made 36 saves to become the second NHL goalie to record a shutout in an outdoor game.

NHL officials looked at the first outdoor game in Southern California as a test case to see if playing outdoors in warmer climates makes sense in their outdoor series.

The reception the game received in LA, and the celebratory atmosphere of the evening, would suggest it was a highly successful test run.

"Hollywood could not have scripted a more magical launch to the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series and this historic weekend for the National Hockey League," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.

Selanne said "you can't say one thing negative" about the game.

"We should this in Anaheim and San Jose should do it," Selanne said. "Everybody should do it. It was unbelievable."

"I tried not to look up (into the crowd)," Lovejoy said. "I think all of us were focused on the task at hand. But after the game, when the fireworks exploded, that was really cool."

The night started with celebrities on a red carpet. Alyssa Milano, Tommy Lasorda, Cuba Gooding Jr., Gretzky and members of KISS. This is the Hockeywood image that was launched when Gretzky was traded to the Kings in 1988.

"We reminded each other that we still had a game to play and that this was not the All-Star Game," Selanne said.

Selanne said it certainly felt like it was more than a game the day before when the players met KISS leader Gene Simmons.

"Our families were here and it was like a zoo here," he said.

The event wasn't quite as fun for the Kings, who have now lost five games in a row.

"I think the energy and all of that was there in the first period," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "Then I think the schedule got us a little in the second to see that, then the determination of the group in the third, they bring it on again. It was just tough scoring."

Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said the crowd enthusiasm was memorable.

"I thought the energy was fabulous," Boudreau said. "I can't even talk now because players couldn't hear me five feet from me when you're trying to tell them who is up or screaming on the ice."

Pregame festivities included youth ball hockey games, beach volleyball games on a court built near the outdoor rink. Skateboarders and rollerbladers darted around the field on a specially built sidewalk.

The Kings and Ducks players all came out and worked out on the field like a baseball team would. The Ducks claimed space down the right field line and the Kings ran behind the pitcher's mound and in left field.

KISS performed before the game, and during the first intermission. Gretzky dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff, a fitting tribute given his contributions to the growth of hockey in California.

It was fitting that former rough-and-ready Kings tough guy Marty McSorley was chosen to introduce the band Five For Fighting, which played during the second intermission.

Scully, joined by Kings broadcaster Bob Miller in welcoming fans to the game, said it would be a game "that will set us on our ears" and it was.

The Ducks, No. 1 in the NHL standings, claimed a 1-0 lead on Perry's goal before fans had time to buy their first Dodger Dog.

Given that there were more Kings fans than Ducks fans in the stands, getting the lead was important to the Ducks.

"This game was a lot of fun," Perry said. "You are always going to remember it."

Shortly after Beleskey made it 2-0, Lovejoy hooked Kopitar, resulting in a penalty shot call. Hiller made the stop as Kopitar tried to sneak the puck through him.

"To be honest, we were really not that good tonight," Selanne said. "But we found a way to win."